₦airaland Forum

An Open Suggestion To Barr Ndamodu Ali On How Not To Launder His Image But Establish His Honour: By Abdullahi Aliyu Ismaila
It is no longer news that you are now a war lord in your own domain as the commissioner in charge of the Kogi state ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs where you hold sway and according to some journalist via your good friends Kogi Grassroot Conscience you were recently boxed to the corner of your office looking dazed and odiously sweating with your AC running at 160 by same Journalist you invited to launder your image for scamming the chairmen/managers of the subsidiaries of Ibro Hotels to the tune of #300 million (three hundred million naira); next time learn or take a cue from the Okene LGA Chairman Salawu Ahmed Ogembe who promptly granted an interview on an allegation of corruption through his appointed secretary in his personal office at far far away Maitama in Abuja instead of the LGA secretariat.
Lesson number two buy and share Prado Jeeps to the various DLG’s and account officers instead of Toyota Hillux cars by Salwu Ahmed Ogembe for the purpose of let me rub your back you keep quiet over my embezzlement and misappropriation of LGA funds and stick the fraud to the Commissioner who has more shock absorbers and then steal a SURE-P project waste van, commission it as one of my administrations achievement to the health department before pressmen but forgot to erase the SURE-P label on the van confirming the earlier claim by Idris king in an interview earlier granted to an online media http://www.eaglereporters.com/i-have-nothing-to-hide-says-hon-salawu-ahmed-ogembe.php.

Promised the audience that very soon the Governor shall also be in the LGA to commission other projects you are putting in place, in summary and without mincing words I want to point to the fact that the Okene LGA Chairman is claiming to be the one constructing the ARIGO-ODENKU 170M CONCRETIZED ROAD which is also another SURE-P Project under the supervision of the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affair and we can no longer condone the negligence on the part of the ministry allowing the former Local Government Liaison Officers now confirmed as chairmen through juxtaposed and crooked election charade to continue to fleece us of the Federal allocation meant to better the lots of our people by presenting to us as their achievements projects for which money’s were deducted from our purchase and use of petrol which we struggled for and some even lost their lives to the trigger happy Nigerian Police Force.
It is high time the commissioner takes the bull by the horn and publicize how much funds released to the LGA’s while also ensuring that SURE-P projects are not claimed by these con-chairmen by regular announcements to the good people of all the KG LGA’s through the mass media of telivision and radio of the SURE-P Projects going on in their LGA’s as well as ensuring that big bill boards are used to indicate at the various points of entry and departures from each LGA of the state.
I have also seen a very beautiful picture of yours circulating the cyberia and social media with some nice CBN crispy mints of bundles, am not your fan neither am I patronizing you, it is funny because some gullible minds can be swayed, does your office pay some contractors their money when the contracts are done? As I can understand this I have been through such in Kano in the 90’s unfortunately for me and fortunately for them mobile phone technology was not common then, next time that friendly snap from a mobile camera can land someone in jail; you know what I mean as a Barr.@Law. Just passing bye but this link might also impress on you http://www.eaglereporters.com/okene-lga-chairman-distributes-6-brand-new-toyota-cars-to-vice-chairman-house-leaders-and-others.php
Signed concerned Okenelite afristone2002@gmail.com
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ANOTHER FOOLS PARADISE AS OKENE LGA CHAIRMAN DOLES OUT SIX BRAND NEW TYOTA TO VICE CHAIRMAN, HOUSE LEADERS AND OTHERS: BY ALIYU ABDULLAHI ISMAILA
In a ploy to douse the tension raised as regards the issue of maladministration and embeslements going on in the Okene Local Government council of Kogi state as earlier raised by some people from the LGA coupled with the media debates on the issue and discussions on social networking sites the chairman has taken another pervasive measure as to result to inducement of some of the people raising eye brows concerning the way things are going on in the LGA, We are asking the government to be responsive to the yearning of our people? and instead of doing that he decided to do a selective let me rub your back so that you keep quiet. To this September fatherXmass WE SAY WHY THE CARS NOW?
According to the news as reported by Eaglereportes.com, “Okene people have lauded Hon Salawu Ahmed Ogembe the Chairman of Okene local government for his developmental strive in the area. This encomium was made when he was giving out keys of 6 brand new Toyota hillus Cars purchased by his administration to Vice Chairman, council leader, Director of local government and other key officers of the council with one waste disposal Van to the health department”.
We want to know what is the status of this cars since according to the quoted news it was purchased by the administration as a developmental strive of the LGA, we also want to know how this will add-up positively to the LGA rather than the individuals? Like I said is these cars bought with public money as official cars or as a personal gift and for what reasons? Because for an administration yet to be a year in office we cannot say they are already awarding successfully dutiful members of the cabinet. And to my disgust, it is rather troubling that after raising the fact in a rejoinder to an interview granted through his secretary concerning the waste disposal van purchased by the SURE-P and even clearly labeled as such Salawu Ahmed Ogembe in his fool’s paradise continued to lay claim to its purchase as one of his developmental achievements confirming the level of his disdain for due process and accountability, it is glairing that our Chairman has decided to continue in his avokumi-eyi and ameri methods of governance but let it be known to him that he may buy some of us over but he can and will never be able to buy us all over.
The idea of patronizing the other selected representatives with sweet sugar coated dialectics as in his following address “He said the magic behind his consistent full salary payment is nothing other than the sacrifice the political office holders made in the local government. He believed that political officers atime do forfeit their salaries and allowance just to make sure workers receive full salary payment. He opined that his administration has been prudent in the utilization of local government resources contrary to the insinuation that he has been diverting public fund in some quota”; as was also reported by eaglereporters.com; is nothing but a con-mans bate for the others in order for him to continue plundering the LG unabated. We as individual citizens of the LG with stake in her development will also not stop to open the eyes of our people to his machinations. Ozi ana ka asi oyin ani suara oni ereyi va ji areyi. APOLOGY TO OUR (EBIROLOGISTS) EBIRA LINGUISTS.
afristone2002@gmail.com
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Governor Idris Wada and His Teaching Service Commission Robbing Kogi State Unemployed Applicants Blind: BY Aliyu Abdullahi Ismaila
For a first time visitor and a tourist to Nigeria among the destinations in the list of such person(s) will be the Historic Lord Lugard city Lokoja the first capital of Nigeria and the current capital of Kogi state of Nigeria, the city where the Royal Niger company Flag was also lowered, a city where most colonialist were buried and their ancestors still come to visit till date, Lokoja the city where the two great rivers of Niger and Benue met. It is a reality which I have seen myself, all you need do to experience it is board a boat or ferry from Ganaja to Shintaku and ask the ferryman to show you where the rivers meet; there you will see the beautiful hand of nature at play, the 0% visibility and brackishness of the water of the Niger river and the near 100% visibility of the water of the Benue river distinctively flowing alongside each other side by side.
These are some of the Natural endowments that make Lokoja the capital of Kogi state a unique tourist destination for all Nigerians and international tourists but the unfortunate dilemma is that aspect of human environmental development as well as human development of the state especially on the part of the people vested with authority to run and lift the state shoulder high high among equals. The only visible physical structures differentiating the state capital since its inception as the capital of Kogi state are those that are credited to former governor Prince Abubakar Audu’s administration that left governance since 2003 with only the exception of the near modern market tagged international market the only achievement of former governor Ibro.
The issue of structural development is outside the scope of this write up as the main beef of this article is on the ridiculously humongous impunity and exploitative cancerous malignancy that has just recently surfaced and embroiled the Kogi Teaching Service Commission on the 500 teaching vacancy E-Card and applicants extortions headed by one Silvester Onoja a former inglorious commissioner for education of a scrupleless governor who ran our state as a subsidiary of his personal Hotel and estate and has continued to reign his hell over our state through his installed proxies and cronies ala Lugard House. It is a shame period for Governor Capt. Idris Wada and Mr. Sylvester Onoja whom apart from fleecing us of the monthly federal revenue allocation to the state have now resulted to daylight robbery of Kogi unemployed applicant through the guise of E-Card registration selling over Ten thousand (10,000) E-Cards at the rate of three thousand Naira (N 3000) for a vacancy of five hundred vacant space only: of which there is no guaranty of 1 in 20 of the probable, based on the probability of 500 in 10,000 that can get the jobs as we all know that the administration is run as a government of their families and cronies for their families and cronies.
It is sad to mention that the government of Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State is also in the same range of the Federal Allocation of revenue as our dear state and can boast of several visible and viable achievements within the same periods as the present Kogi administration few among these achievements are as follows: Twenty five new housing estates still under construction, fifteen kilometer roads been constructed in every local government area of Imo state while the minimum wage of the state has been raised to N 20,000 and education at all level is free of charge for all citizens of Imo etc. This make me to ask, where does our ever smiling innocent faced governor Idris Wada stands when it comes to doling out the dividends of governance and democracy to the ever accommodating people of Kogi? Sir that office is not forever, what will be your legacy in the end? Mind your excellency this is not a disrespect for your office or person but a sort of reminder and motivation, PDP has a near abortive pregnancy an indication that election 2015 may not be business as usual and it is only the delivery of democratic stipends to your constituents that will guarantee your going back to reside at Lugard House not even the Aso Rock Villa resident can boast as at now his own fate in the 2015 Election. It is a reality that karma is taking shape and your future is in your hand and now that the reign of Kogi is in your hand, as a pilot I expect you to pilot your plane and not allow your passengers take over your sit for the consequence is dire.
Another shocking aspect of this matter is the quietness of the state house of assembly over the issue of robbing our unemployed applicant’s blind, we belief the legislature which is to check and balance the executive should always wade in when ever necessary to safeguard our democratic ethos anytime the interest of our masses are at stake. Kano state is a very good example where E-Cards is a great tool in the hand of the state government, a two hundred and fifty naira E-Card is been used to gather a data base of Kano state citizens for all purpose ie. Applicants, undergraduates, graduates and recently unmarried people interested in the communal marriages conducted by the state government; among the benefits of this data base registered through N 250 E-Card used to register to the Kano state portal to Kanawa’s are the selection of 500 citizens based on merit and given scholarship to study post graduate courses abroad, 101 citizens to study aviation and piloting in Jordan, recently in August 300 students were also selected for undergraduate studies scholarship abroad and as at 2nd September the second sets of 400 women trained at the Bagauda Fishery institute which is one amongst several training institutes established within the past two years by the kano administration to empower her people were graduated and given 500 seed-fish, water tanks, fish-feed/drugs and N 24,000 cash to empower them, in Kogi rather than empower our people our own Kogi government is stealing from our unemployed masses.
We want answers for why must our people pay so much for nothing? We are not talking of a probability of 1 in 2 but 500 in 10,000 (1 in 20) people meaning that the government that is supposed to regulate the criminal activities of business men is the one indulging in criminal impunity of the masses which the government swore to protect. It is beyond human rational reasoning that for a vacancy of 500 space only an E-Card numbering up to 10,000 and above were produced for sale at an exorbitant price to the indigent citizen of a state whose only crime is been unemployed a scenario created by the same unproductive government. Thirty million naira gathered from unemployed indigent people of kogi state what a way of modern slavery and stealing by Sylvester Onoja.
Except our amiable ever smiling Governor is heartless behind his innocent looks all the rogues involved in fleecing our unemployed applicants to the tune of (N 30,000000) thirty million naira; should be investigated relieved of their responsibility and sanctioned so that others in position of responsibility can take a cue from, while the prospective applicants be refunded at least N 2500 and the registration gathered from this exercise be used to start a data base for the state; as I would like to take for ordinary rumour mongering the speculations that the bank involved in the E-Cards saga claimed to have over-drafted the payments for the E-Cards to Mr. Sylvester Onoja the board chairman even before the commencement of the sales of the cards and when Governor Wada tried to wade in by seeking an explanation from the chairman who was abroad as at when the crises erupted, it was later learnt that he flew back into the country through Abuja and brought along to Lokoja with him the OGA @ THE TOP of the IBRO GROUP OF HOTELS, whom as usual came to Lugard house and promptly put the occupant manager of his subsidiary in his proper place which contradicted the position as published recently where the governor stated that “I AM IN CHARGE OF KOGI-WADA” in Daily Trust news paper, Wednesday, August 28, 2013 page 10.
In the light of recent happenings nationwide it is time for the Kogi state governor to make the right choice of renewing his commitment to the totality of Kogites, so as to write his name in the positive side of the sand of time better than his predecessors; this article was prompted by the story of one Emmanuel Onucheyo Adoga an applicant who borrowed money only to get to the bank at Lokoja and be informed that the first sets of ten thousand E-Cards has sold out and that a proposition to reproduce more cards which will now sell for N 5000 each which eventually led to the mass action that later ensued. Therefore, this is a token dedicated to Adoga and the millions of his likes in Kogi and allover the globe at the mercy of the exploitative system world over.
Written by
Aliyu Abdullahi Ismaila
e-mail: afristone2002@gmail.com
twitter handle: @afristone2002

I have nothing to hide says Hon. Salawu Ahmed Ogembe: A Rejoinder by Aliyu Abdullahi Ismaila
Hon. Salawu Ahmed Ogembe, (SAO) is playing a game of hide and seek (Eku echichi) with the Eagle Reporter’s Stephen Shaibu Ojate and they are actually falling for their pranks and lies, we are talking about several allegations of acute serial embezzlement of Okene Local government funds by the Chairman for which some he has been invited by the EFCC according to some reliable sources within the LG. instead of him to tow the honourable way of addressing our people on the issues at hand in person he decided to use the less credible Azeez Ozi Idris king a dishonourable former member of house of representative whom he has decided to make his LGA secretary who can not even boast of authoring any bill nor constituency project achievement as a former member of the house of representatives.
The most painful aspect of the interview is the lack of sensitivity and impunity with which it was conducted the interviewer was invited to a far faraway LGA in Abuja, in a personal office of the secretary to our Chairman what a way of actually confirming to us that our Local Government is been run as SAO’s personal estate with total and absolute disregard to due process, how would you explain this when we have a Local government secretariat and an important interview regarding the efficacy of the fund management of the LG is been granted by the secretary to the LG in his personal Office in disrespect for his office and that of the Chairman and a betrayal of the trust of our people.
It is funny that as the head of the LGA secretariat the man is surprised that we are saying we do not know the amount accruing to the LGA from the federation account through the state, whether published by the state government or not we want to know what actually came to our Local government council in figures and how the funds are been utilized, rather he was talking as if he had something to hide or himself had no figures, as the secretary to the LG he should know the actual figures that goes into the monthly pay roll and should be able to quote for us the actual amount that has accrued to the LGA since he became the secretary as 25% and 75% make no meaning to us.
These are men that are running our LG aground, the secretary is there sitting in his personal office in Abuja while his boss is permanently resident at Lokoja and boot licking at the feet of the CEO of Ibro hotels annex and only comes to the secretariat once or twice a week for say 3-4 hours per coming and they deceive us through the media hogwash that they are spending hell on fuel to generate electricity at the secretariat, I was once their to attend a bidding and when the PHCN light which was considerably more stable in Okene than at MAITAMA where our secretary is more familiar with went off no generator was turned on at this point it is good to make it clear that the secretariat is not even digitized as no computers are visible in several of their offices cant even say if they have a website or are even on internet. His bogus expenditure in running the generating set has no figure not even an estimated one for that matter.
QUESTIONABLE ACHIEVEMENT CLAIMS:
There are question marks on some of the claims by the dishonourable Ozi Idris King on the achievements of SAO as the chairman of the LG, prominent ones of which are:
1. The purchase of refuse van and
2. Construction of road at Arigo (construction of 170m of concretized road Arigo Odenku road). This two projects are Sure-P project which I refer every reader of this rejoinder to the advert by Kogi state government of Nigeria, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Lokoja. Invitation to tender for Sure-P Projects, Daily Trust Monday, April 15th, 2013, page 48, OKENE lot 6 and 9 respectively.
Now seriously talking about Sure-P, Who does not Know that he Salawu Ahmed Ogembe cornered most of the contract through his cronies company like Ozi Idris King said his chairman was not a member of the committee but he gave a specific instruction to the DLG who was the chair of the bid committee to put a hold to all activities regarding the contract till he assumes office this was while he was not even elected as we all knew what happened in Kogi was not an election but a charade of appointments into one of the branches of Ibro Hotels for which homage is been paid monthly to the former governor and his son and their other gangs of blood sucking politicians on monthly basis at the expense of our people and the development of our LG and State at large. The letter of the contract award was delayed till when he deemed it fit. As I represented our company that also bided for a lot in the project an event which I have an article on www://nairaland.com to the effect and same article also on a page which I manage on my facebook. I was later sent to through my dad that my company won a contract which the Deputy Governor was interested in. so I should wait till the next round of Sure-P project contracts that will come in the near future, what a due process according to Ozi Idris king. What we are more concerned about here is not winning or who wins what but the execution of projects for which we all have a stake in as every citizen of Okene who is directly or indirectly involved in the use of petrol is charged for the sure-p, both IK and SAO might not have partook in the demonstration of the fuel subsidy removal in person like I and several other millions of Nigerians some of which lost their lives in that struggle as a result the failure of executing the Sure-P project contract will be an insult on the sacrifice that saw all Nigerians united and some giving their lives up for the future of our children. Rather than tell us the level of the projects so far, he was busy parrying the questions; Mr. Secretary your chairman is the executive of the LGA concerned what is the level of the Sure-P Project contract in your LG is it satisfactorily completed and what level of certification of payment have your LG approved to be paid to the contractors by the Kogi ministry for Local Government as the bulk lies on bosses desk and the last time I checked the list of the Sure-P projects approved for Okene LG IS as follows:


OKENE:
SURE-P PROJECT DESCRIPTION LOCATION
1. Renovation of a block 4 class rooms Arigo Comm. Sec. Schl.
2. Renovation of administrative blck & Class rms. Anyava Comm. Sec Schl.
3. Renovation of a block 2 Class rm. @ LGA
Sec. School Ohiana
4. Construction of cold room @ primary health care dev. Not mentioned
5. Reticulation of B1 water Idoma, Ageva and Obehira
Community.
6. Purchase of refuse van
7. Purchase of 15 tons towing truck
8. Rehabilitation/Improvement of 9 nos. of boreholes
9. Construction of 170m concretized road Arigo Odenku Road
10. Construction of 4 cell public latrine & bathrooms Okene central motor park,
Idozumi
11. Construction of 2 nos. borehole with overhead
tanks Okene central motor park &
Abattoir
12. Upgrading of women development centre Okene & Okengwen
These are the Sure-P Projects approved and awarded for Okene LG, the most fascinating aspect of which we have read that lot 6 and 9 are the achievements of the present LGa Chairman’s administration, I beg to differs on this and also to say that there is no certainty concerning there other claims to achievements, every citizen of the LG of school age knows that any child opportune to sit the Turkish international secondary school entry exam is a child burn with silver spoon and does not require our LG’s Aneku jamboree scholarship while the children of the common masses who passed the national common entrance are left on their own to continue to struggle without end to get the means for their scholastic endeavour, it is rather sad that one of the most educated and well travelled chairman in the annals of the history of Okene LG happens to be the most insensitive since the inception of the LG.
It takes a fool to listen to a conman without deducing what he has up his sleeves, Mr. secretary you can not take us all for a sucker punch, you claimed Okene has (0) zero internally generated revenue while same you later confessed that each shop in Okene Market pays N 6000 to the confers of the LG, we also want to remind you of the daily ticketing of traders as well as daily vehicular ticketing at the parks, it is rather unfortunate that a ploy to improve revenue collection is been used to now zero our internally generated revenue which can only be seconded in the state by only the state capital in recent time, on the white elephant civic centre project we are politicians with second address as mentioned in your interview which I also believe every Ebira man has his hoe even the unemployed graduates of our land while some of us are also contractors cause the last time I checked Idris King toiletries is long bankrupt and since Karaku Okene LG has long been a division of Ibro Hotels, we are all aware that before a project is tendered for the stages of planning, pricing or costing and budgeting has been concluded and by the time it is bided for, it is ready to be awarded and take off but in your own case you just want a bogus ultra modern civic center and you start bidding without a price and you want us to keep quiet over an issue that affect us all, the impunity with which you are trying to run our LG may lead you to your political doom, yes today you have your way but let me inform you that politically our people are becoming wiser, ask Sen. Ohize and he will tell you his experience, mind you VOTES SHALL COUNT 2015 and that senatorial sit you have always dreamt and aimed at since you appeared on the political river of Ebira land can and will never be achievable if you continue in this treacherous way of running the LG because of the grand puppeteers that have stringed you, I want to assure you that they wont be their to help you when the time comes, call a spade by its name Idris king does not have to dishonour you by denying you the right to aspire to a higher office for which we all know has been your primary ambition in politics, we are not against it but we demand that you govern our LG for all and not for yourself and cronies and the like of your secretary who will guide you astray.
It is high time to tell you to desist from sacking our people for they are the ones you need and not IBRO AND CO, real election is on the way and it will be for the man with the real grass-root support; like it or not our party is seriously sick and we all know things are falling apart and the center may no longer hold and soon it will be everyman for himself, the chairman should come back home and run our LG in the midst of our people try as much as possible to bring back our people together especially the Obehira/Idoma axis because this is the right time to reconcile his people, charity they say begins at home for in any true election once you deliver your word you are a respected personality that Sule Engineer has always achieved which made his astuteness impeccable when it come to politicking a feature that has made OBJ an Otta chicken in the politics of southwest and Tony Anenih a paper Mr Fix it in our recent politics.
At this juncture it is remarkable that the conman secretary resisted the temptation to deny the N 200 Million loan as alleged, we will also want to state here that the time for putting up any structure that will not empower our people or generate tangible revenue for the LG is uncalled for and the focus of the administration should rather go into establishing an ultra modern Park between Okene and Okpela where luxurious buses can also park as Okene is a transit hub to all the part of the country and far better than the free for all civic center, the issue of entertainment and hospitality should be left in the hands of our private hoteliers and the local government can assist such people through facilitating their access to fund from the SME fund and also provision of land, recently the CBN released N 220 Billion fund for Small Scale Enterprises through micro finance banks, the chairman should encourage any or all the MF banks in the LG to signup on the SME fund with the CBN in other to enable our people who are interested have access to it, the case of the N 200 Billion federal mining fund too is there for the LG chair to facilitate in other to also empower our teaming youths; the LG should synergize with the Federal ministry of mines concerning the fund so that our people who are interested in mining can have access to the fund, the LG Administration should encouraged our people already into mining or interested in mining to form mining cooperative societies registered through the LGA while the LGA facilitates their access to this fund through the federal ministry of mines.
Apart from transportation and other commercial activities our Local government is bereft of Industries our hope is that instead of going into this jamboree of a civic center, the LG will go into empowering our people by going into Local government based cottage industries like establishing fadama irrigation farming system in our zone in other to encourage our people who are naturally agrarian in nature to go into dry season farming, fishery and poultry farms could also be established.
Our land is so rich in solid mineral that most at-time it has become our peoples outdoor latrine, we are rich in bulk solid minerals such as granite, feldspar, kaolin and even limestone, which the local government can put some fund into and a lot of our people can be empowered while a lot of internally generated revenue will also be raised to the benefit of the LG. It is a time for the rise against Clannish nepotism for Ebira vo yan, our Chairman should comeback home and govern our people at home rather than allow himself to continue to be stringed-up by the puppeteers at Lokoja for they will not give him Lokoja I suggest that he solicit the advice of the proponent of “I cannot use my elephant as a hook bait for fish” who is well informed in that field and also if Mr. Chairman does not want the Ohize treatment when the vote really counts he should deliver the democratic dividends to our people and try as much as thread the AT Ahmed way of All for One and One for All.
The interview by Shaibu Steven Ojate has not clarified anything neither has it cleared any allegation as he has claimed in the Face Book Social Media rather it further exposed and raised more doubts and question on the credibility of not just the Chairman but the types of appointees in his cabinet who wants to con us to believe that a Sure-P project is their achievement and now reduced Ogembe as a hypocrite who earlier claimed to be philanthropic and now that he has a political office doesn’t want to be Dr. to our ailing people again, we are also on the watch out for any miscreant and opportunistic social crusader in the garb of a journalist and our AKATAPA’s would continue to follow up issues and also continue to cry out until corrections are made with regards to governance in our domain and motherland.
By Aliyu Abdullahi Ismaila
afristone2002@gmail.com
twitter handle: @afristone2002

Ane Ebira, we are an ethno-linguistic group in Nigeria. Many of us are from Kogi State, Kwara State, Nasarawa State, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Edo State. Okene is said to be our administrative centre, the Ebira-speaking people in Kogi state, are not far from the Niger-Benue confluence.
Origin of the Ebiras
An elder beats the Agidibo to salute the spirits (Photo by EbiraView) Ebira Tao is the largest of the several Ebira groups found in about 8 states of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Our sister groups are Ebira Koto and Ebira Mozum (Kogi state), Ebira Panda, Ebira Oje/Toto (Nassarawa state), Ebira Etuno (Edo state), Ebira Agatu (Benue state) Ebira Oloko (Ondo/Oyo/Osun states). The history of our origin were those compiled from Attah Omadivi and other Ebiran Clan Heads by the British colonial administrators in early 20th century. Our elders, through oral tradition, trace our descent to Wukari (in the present Taraba state) where we were an integral part of the Kwararafa confederation. In about 1680 AD, our ancestors (along with the Idoma and Igala) migrated out of Wukari over a chieftaincy dispute. Our people later split into various groups and settled in different locations between 1680 and 1750 AD. We Ebira Tao first sojourned with the Igalas at Idah but later crossed the River Niger and settled at Ebira Opete located in the vicinity of Upake in Ajaokuta LGA.
Our 'father' of Ebira Tao who led us to this premier settlement in Ebiraland was Itaazi. Itaazi had five (5) sons who all later migrated from Ebira Opete and were the founders of the various districts in Ebiraland. The children and the districts they founded are Adaviruku/Ohizi (Adavi), Ododo (Okehi), Obaji (Eyika), Uga (Okengwe) and Ochuga/Onotu (Ihima). His daughter named Ohunene settled in Eganyi district. Members of the various clans in Ebiraland are descendants of the children of Itaazi. Ohizi had five children who are progenitors of the five traditional Adavi clans named after them. These are upopo-uvete (Apasi), Uka, Idu (Aniku), Adeyika and Uhwami. A migrant group from Eganyi known as Ezi-Onogu clan is also found in Adavi. The sons of Ododo who are the ancestors of Okehi clans were Okovi Oviri and Enwgukonyai. Obaji the founder of Eika had ten children named Ohiaga, Iyewe, Avassa, Ehemi, Anchi, Epoto, Egiri, Ubobo, Ogu and Eyire. Uga of Okengwe had two sons whose children constitute the present Okovi and Agada group of clans. Due to a sizeable concentration of other Ebira clans in Okengwe district, they formed a socio-political coalition known as Ada-ehi. Ochuga had six children and their descendants make up the six clans in Ihima. These are Emani, Oha/Idu, Ohueta, Ure, Ohongwa and Odumi. The seventh clan is Akuta who migrated from Okengwe. Though Itaazi's daughter named Ohunene was the founder of Eganyi, not all the clans there are descended from her. Eganyi clans are Ede, Esugu, Eheda, Ogu, Onoko, Idu, Anavapa and Ogodo. The Aningere who are skilled craftsmen are found in all districts. They are, however, more concentrated in Okengwe and Adavi districts.
We constitutes one of the ethnic groups in the Middle Belt zone of Nigeria. But, however, did not evolve a centralized form of leadership until the advent of the British colonial authorities, which brought together the various Ebira clans under the leadership of Attah Omadivi in 1902. therefore, the year 1902 marked the evolution of a monarchical form of administration and the gradual development of central administration in Ebiraland.
Location and size of the Ebira community
Ebiraland is a small hilly inland area that stretches roughly for twenty three kilometres west of the Niger at Ajaokuta and thirty two kilometers southwest of the Niger-Benue confluence. The range of hills occasionally rises to six hundred and sixty seven metres above sea level. Ebiraland, the home of Ebira Tao, is in the central senatorial District of Kogi state. It has a landmass of 3,426 km2. The 1991 national census puts the population of the area 722,032. Another national head count was undertaken in 2006. The provisional figure of 884,396 released by the National Population Commission (NPC) is being disputed. It is distributed as follows: Okene LGA (320,260), Adavi LGA (202,194), Okehi LGA (199,999), Ajaokuta LGA (122,321) and Ogori Magongo LGA (39,622). Our communities which started as tiny villages have joined together as near towns, gradually and progressively expanding towards one
another with Okene as a city in modern times. Ebiraland thus presents an aerial view of one huge near urban settlement with intervening barriers.
Our Culture and Administration
We are republican by nature, outspoken and very hard working. Farming and cloth-weaving are occupations for which Ebiras are well known. we are presently spread in five Local Government Areas of Kogi state namely: Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ajaokuta and Ogori-magongo. A sizeable number is of our people are found in Lokoja Local Government Area, Ondo, Ogun, and Oyo states. Our paramount ruler is called Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. The Pre-Colonial Ebira community was essentially segmentary. It consisted of five principal clans among several others, namely, Okengwe, Eika, Okehi, Adavi, and Ihima. The respective priests (heads) of these clans were known as Ohindase, Adeika, Ohiomahi, Asema and Obonbanyi. Each clan was selfgoverning and did not regard any other as superior to it.
Significantly, the clan was the main unit of political organization. The post of the clan head was normally conferred on the oldest living male member of the clan. His religious duties and disciplinary powers were, however, limited to his own family. His political influence was quite small and although he presided over the meetings of his clan, his judgement was determined largely by the consensus of opinion of the elders. The administration of all the clan heads constituting a community in Ebiraland lay in the hands of the elders, influential individuals and the chief priest (Ohinoyi).
Economically, the clan head held in trust for the clan, part of the income from all the clan lands, such as the produce from palm oil and locust bean trees,during the pre-colonial period. Also, the leg of whatever game that was killed was given to him, which he shared with the kindred heads.We so much cherish our traditional festivities in spite of the infiltration of some negative tendencies in recent times.
Our people were used to coming together in the face of crisis. Thus, in moments of war, we come together as a united front to ward off the incursion of the enemy. Indeed, our people have built strong confidence inour warfare and ‘superior’ weapons – bows and arrows. The invasion of Ebira country by the Nupe (1865-1900) did not make them doubt our military superiority. Our Nupe invaders were successfully resisted by our people under our amiable warrior leader who later became Attah Omadivi. The Nupe invasion was organized in the form of raids for slaves. But the our people were soon to realize that our warfare and ‘superior’ weapons could not defend us against the British super superior weaponry in 1902.
In 1895, an outstation was placed at Kabba by the Royal Niger Company and a fort was built there by Captain Turner, an officer attached to the Niger Constabulary. On 1st January, 1900, Frederick Lugard took over the government of Northern Nigeria from the Royal Niger Company and hoisted the British flag at Lokoja. Kabba was formed into a province which included the Akoko, Kukuruku and Ebira countries, and was administered from Lokoja, which was also the headquarters of the protectorate of Northern Nigeria, with Sir William Wallace as its first Resident.
In 1902, a small military escort led by Mr. Malcom and Lt. F.F.W.Byng-Hall sent into Ebira country was seen by the our people as an incursion. They refused to meet with the British demand for the supply of food, seeing this as a direct insult on their persons. Mr. Malcom and his party, outnumbered, were attacked with arrows by the Ebira and escaped by a night march to Kabba, arriving the next day. The British soldiers used this as casus belli and marched on them with fire arms. The Ebira country was subjugated and pacified. The resident in Ebiraland described the result of the expedition asfollows: “The Ebira were no doubt severely punished during the expedition and I now find them very afraid of the whiteman”
With the defeat of our people, the British then imposed their rule on us, politically uniting the various clans by force. During the British occupation of our land, Agidi, one of the notable personalities among the Ebira, led an armed resistance against any form of British rule. In 1902, he and his men attacked the small British group led by Mr. Malcom, the political officer. Who barely escaped death. After this event, Ebiraland was declared a land of ‘savages’ and Mr Malcom ordered a detachment of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF) to sit among our people in order to ‘tame’ them.
In 1903, a punitive expedition under Major Marsh, Lieutenants Sparrenbarg, Moran, Byng-Hall, Gallway, Smith, Oldman and Captain Lewis, was organized to call Agidi to order and to establish permanent peace in Ebiraland. In this expedition, the British received the whole hearted cooperation of Omadivi, who was the representative of Ohindase Abogunde – the chief priest at the time. Omadivi, like Ohindase, was from the Okengwe clan.
Omadivi supplied vital information, most especially on how to capture Agidi who was his political rival. In fact, both Omadivi and Agidi were notable personalities or influential individuals in the Ebira of that time. While the former was loyal to the Chief priest, the latter was not. By 1904, Ebiraland was fully pacified and Mr. Morgan, the Resident of Kabba province, was able to say with confidence that the Ebira people now feared the ‘‘whiteman” and were at “peace with each other”.

Our Cultural Festivals (Eche-Ozi Ete)
We have several annaul cultural festivals and among the prominent ones are 'Echane', 'Eche Ori' and 'Ekuechi'.
Eche-Ane
This is an annual masquerade festival celebrated in rotation from one district to the other in Ebiraland (between April–June). In the past, it was only during the period of the festival that betrothed girls were given away in marriage to their suitors. That is why the festival is called 'Eche-ane' (women festival). Ebira Masquerades or Mascots, though carried long canes, came out primarily to entertain people and received gifts in return. It is regrettable that this very popular and interesting festival has been bastardized and now a source of constant breach of peace. We want to use this media to enlighten our youth that a people without a culture is like a people without history, our traditional festivities if handled with humility and the necessary modernity could become a world class tourism that can take us to the world map of hospitality, hence improved Ebira economy, employment and influence word over. This we can not achieve except we shun violence within ourselves so that our name EBIRA shall come to bare fruit in heart of mankind. As we invite them to join in the celebration of our unmatchable heritage Ebira Kaneri.
Eche-Ori
We are farmers and farming is the pride of the Anebira economy, 'Eche Ori' is our new yam festival celebrated only in two districts of Ebiraland. These are Ihima and Eganyi. During the festival, traditional worshippers make sacrifices in the secret groove of 'Ori' (deity) high up in the mountain to show gratitude for its protection and provision of bounteous harvest. The worshipers carry long canes with which they whip one another in turns without anyone exhibiting any sign of pain. This is a mark of strength or manhood. Another important attraction of the festival is the delightful 'Echori' music in which female singers feature prominently. Only after this festival can one eat or sell new yams in our markets as it is a taboo to do so before the festival in Ihima and Eganyi.
Ekuechi (traditional night masquerade)
This is a night masquerade festival which marks the end of the Ebira calendar year and the beginning of a new one. Ododo is popularly acclaimed to be the initiator of this masquerade festival. The 'Akatapa' masquerade heralds the beginning of the festival often saying "Irayi ododo osi gu, Irayi akatapa osi gu eeeh! Osa yeeeh!" which means "the year of the Ododo has ended; the year of Akatapa has ended. Here is another year". The festival begins with a festival eve in which folk singers (omikede) perform to the delight of both men and women. The following day, the real festival in which masquerades sing and dance to entertain people from dusk to dawn takes place. It is restricted to men and few special women called onoku only so all and majority of our women stay indoors throughout the duration of the festival. All dead relatives are believed to return to earth on a visit this night, so, women prepare delicious 'Apapa' (bean read) and he-goat meat for the visitors. The women also, at times, leave monetary gifts with the men for the visiting dead relatives. Trust men, the meals and gifts are properly and neatly delivered to the beneficiaries who only the men have the privilege of seeing and interacting with, that night.
Traditional Marriage in Ebira Land
Ebira people, mostly living along the River Benue plain down and beyond the River Niger, are a tribe found in Kogi state in Okene, Okehi, Adavi and Ajaokuta local government areas and in some parts of Nassarawa, Plateau and Edo states.
The word Ebira means good behaviour when translated literally with ethics and hospitality as compliments. The unique features of the Ebira culture with its ethnic aestheticism, are appreciated most in the event of traditional marriages.
Victoria Mayaki sheds more light on this. When a man sees a lady he intends to marry, he discusses his intentions with her, who, if interested, tells him to bring his people to express his intentions to her parents.
In respect to the Ebira tradition, the man does not walk to the parents of the woman to disclose his intentions; his parents or elders mostly the women do this by going to the lady’s parents to introduce themselves and also to inform them of their reason for coming to the house.
After this is done, the parents of the lady then conduct a thorough investigation on the upbringing, background, family history and so on, of the intending groom to unravel any history of madness, terminal diseases or criminality in the man’s family. This is with a view to deciding whether or not to give their daughter’s hand in marriage to a family with a tainted reputation in the society.
After the research, if their findings are appreciable, an approval is given to the man to visit the bride-to- be from time to time to further get to know themselves properly.
A date is later picked for the formal introduction of both families and this is called “Ise Ewere” which literally means what has been in secret is now in the open. During the celebration, there is usually the presentation of gift items made by the family of the groom to the family of the bride.
The gift items usually include; about 42 tubers of yam, dried fish or bush meat, 10 liters of palm oil, a bag of salt, assorted wines and kola nut. The groom may also decide to present two wrappers to his would-be bride but this is optional.
On the day of introduction, it is not necessary that the man attends the occasion as his family members do the necessary things on his behalf. The bride’s family in turn, entertains the groom’s with food and drinks. The families interact with one another and formally introduce every member of both families.
After this is done, the date for traditional marriage is then fixed. The tubers of yam and other items brought are distributed to neighbours and members of the extended family no matter how small. Much significance is given to this to ask for their prayers for a happy marriage as well as to ensure the acknowledgement of the community that the lady now has someone she intends to get married to.
The amount to be collected as bride price is also agreed upon by the parents of the bride and it depends to a large extent, on the financial strength of the man. Apart from the bride price, there are other things like “ozemeiyi” that is “I am attracted to her” which a certain amount of money is attached to, and “otanuvogei” that is “joining hands together”. There is also “idoza” that is “farming price” paid to the bride’s family because Ebira people are predominantly farmers. In the olden days when every young man had to farm, the groom and his friends appoint a day to farm for the father of the bride but these days because most young men don’t farm any longer, they pay money instead.
On the day of the traditional marriage, women in the man’s family are seen singing and dancing carrying tubers of yams on their heads to the lady’s house. The singing and dancing continues at their arrival at the lady’s house where the ceremony kicks off. Other items to be taken are cans of palm oil, groundnut oil, dried fish, some clothing materials in some boxes, jewelries and other things for adornment of the lady.
The ceremony is usually colorful with display of dances by maiden groups mostly the bride’s friends and by women groups. A religious leader and the parents of the couple offer prayers for them to bless their marriage and a certificate is thereafter given to the couple by the religious leader to acknowledge their marriage.
The lady is thereafter, escorted by her friends and other women to her husband’s house with her belongings.
This article was copied from Wikipedia edited and modified and there is still room for further modification and referencing
References
Oyikete Ebira, by S.S. Salami(edited by Isaac H. Jimoh).
The Evolution and Development of Central Administration in Ebiraland, 1920-1997. By Victor Osaro Edo
http://ebiraview..com/2011/01/sketch-history-of-ebira-itopa-ebira.html
Ethnologue report on Ebira language
PanAfriL10n page on Ebira.


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SURE-P IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR OKENE, KOGI AND NIGERIA THROUGH THE EYE OF A BELIEVER IN THE NIGERIAN PROJECT. PART I.
I am a Nigerian male, a believer in the Nigerian Project, I am also a card carrying member of the PDP since 1998, but because of my Nigerian believes I did not vote the previous PDP administration and the present administration of GEJ, I gave my vote to my concience and damn the consequence as in the words of our present president “I DONT GIVE A DAMN!” but in my own case, this I said with regards to whether my candidate wins or not but to ensure that my civic right to the Nigerian project based on my personal believes and democratic ethos are met.
This article as titled SURE-P is there any hope for Okene, Kogi and Nigeria through my eyes as I was defined above was born out of my keen interest since the January 1st 2011, petroleum subsidy removal, demonstrations and the various events that has evolved and revolved around the same issues, it is therefore note worthy to state that I personaly participated in the demonstration in Kano in my own way when Comrade Adamu Yinusa Danguguwa of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Supported by the ASSU Bayero University, Kano called for demonstrations against the removal of the subsidy; then armed with my Sony mini DV Camera I also went round in solidarity to our common deprivation.
I remember having a heated argument then with a Law Student who was in support of the Complete fuel subsidy removal in Person of Nasiru Iyanda Abdullhakeem presently at the Bagauda Law School he was of the opinion that total fuel subsidy removal and its implementation in the SURE-P Programme will bring about massive infrastructural development, I had the opinion as profesed by Mr. Chima Nnaji recently in February this year then, I made it clear to him that it was only during the regime of Late Gen. Abacha that we realised any tangible development from subsidy removal which was placed in the hands of a credible personality in the institution of Petroleum Trust Fund and since then nothing has worked, it was after that, that AGO popularly known as diesel was completely deregulated leading to skyrocketted transport fare in haullage of goods and making life difficult for the populace, I remeber I was only able to bring him near my views when I made it known to him that now that the president has eventualy reviewed the subsidy removal to partial removal; that the Minister for Information has just said the Administration will not be able to meet up with its promise on SURE-P.
The chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, in february 2013, Mr. Christopher Kolade revealed that the SURE-P initiative is an intervention device which the Federal Government has employed in catalyzing some of its special projects in need of funds.
While shedding light on the operations of the SURE-P committee, Mr. Kolade cleared the air on the many controversies and misconceptions shrouding the activities of the committee.
The SURE-P “is actually an intervention device; it’s not part of the regular budget. It’s to intervene in a way that produces specific value.” This he said on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily.
He also explained that the SURE-P which is funded with about 42% of the subsidy removal is to help the people believe in the Federal Government. At his own level of the SURE-P, while the remaining goes to the states and local government as he said for the past year it was estimated at over N400 billion was saved from the partial removal in which N180 billion was set aside in a dedicated account for SURE-P at the Central Bank of Nigeria while the remaining goes to the States and Local governments.
Recently, this writer saw an advert in the daily trust news paper of Monday, April 15, 2013, by the Kogi State Government of Nigeria Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Lokoja on INVITATION TO TENDER FOR SURE-P PROJECTS. In the advert it was stated that the Local Government Areas of Kogi State have received allocation of funds from the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) as part of the allocation from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), to mitigate the effects of partial removal of subsidy on petroleum products.
It further stated that “in a deliberate effort to ensure prudent utilisation of the fund and to achieve faithful delivery of projects under the programme, the Local Government of Kogi State have appraised and selected projects of high social and community values that would socially transform and structurally support the livelyhood of the rural populace in the state, it was concluded that in furtherance of these objectives, interested competent contractors are invited for the project listed below:
I then perused it and discovered that all the 21 Local Government Areas in the state were covered with various projects, it was at this point that I took the decision to participate and see whether it will be business as usual so I armed my self with the requirements and then moved to my home Local Government Area to participate in the SURE-P project, when I got to the Secretariat I was discouraged by some people I talked to they said that I should forget it, it is a waste of my time and resouces they said, but they never new I had a mission so I told them not to worry that it is a sacrifice I am willing to make and so I registered with the LGA’s tenders board and also paid for a lot in the SURE-P project advertised, I later went to the Works department collected the tender documents filled it and submitted it with the neccessary documents the next day and moved back to my base waiting for further notice, which later came notifying me of postponement in the Bid date due to Local Government Elections to be held.
Another notice came informing me that the bid will be opened at the state capital tenders board on 14, May 2013, I set out on 13 of May 2013 to Lokoja due to network hasles my phone was off throughout my journey as a result they could not reach me on 13th, it was on 14th morning the T.O. was able to reach and informed me that he has been directed to inform us that it has been changed to each Local Goverment Areas again and that sitting commenses by 12:00 noon and the bids is to take place by 1:00 pm, I did not hesistated I took my bag and also started another trip to Okene from Lokoja immediately as I have a date with destiny.
As at 11:30am people have started gathering at the venue which was the Councils Chambers of the Okene Local Government Area, Engineer Samuel Akku the Head Of Department of works made an anouncement that we were expecting representatives of the SURE-P Committee from the State Capital to observe the bidding that as soon as they come in the Tender box which was under lock and nails would be opened and the bidding will commence. Few minutes after 1.00 pm our expected guests came in and the MC set in motion by Calling the HOD Education of the LGA who is also a member of the LGA tenders board to say the opening prayers, after which the HOD works who introduced himself as standing for the DLG who is the Chairman of the LGA tenders board and is on official duty to the Federal Capiatal Teritory is in the position of acting chairman of the board and the host of the bid, he then introduced the SURE-P representatives who was Engineer (Mrs.) Maryam Bello and her secretary he said he was delighted to have met her recently and discorvered that she was a proffesional colleague but with the ministry of women affair and questioned why an Engineer in the ministry for women affairs? she responded that her talent was discorvered by the wife of a one time Governor Bzigu Afakriye of the state and invited her to work with her and long after that she continued to be there.
When this woman Engineer took the microphone to address the gathering, first she appologised for been a little late and then did not only confirmed what the HOD earlier mentioned about her, she further proved her desterity and articulation and the readiness to see that things are done the right way, she took us down memory lane on the how and why? of the SURE-P, I remeber her using the same words that Christopher Kolade used in his interview with Channels Tv in which he said “IT WILL NOT BE BUSINESS AS USUAL” she further added that the era of abandoned project is over and that they will monitor the projects to the letter.
The Bid started in the presence of the representaives of the securirty agencies, the box was opened in the presence of the contractors presented by the Technical Crew of the Works Department whom were instructed by the HOD to arrange them based on the lot written on them, while the arrangement was going on the HOD observed that the envelopes were been arranged on the top of the tables in front of some of the contractors he immediately ask for the mic and gave instruction that the tender envelopes be removed and placed on the ground; that was done immediately before the bids were opened envelopes after envelopes and tender contractors’ names and tender figures registered for each lot in sheets provided by the LGA tenders board officials, security agencies present and contractors on sit.
So far, all these proccesses seems to be transparent and in accordance to the rule of the book, as we awaited the selection of the successful contractors based on merits and not on Business As Usual , so that in the long run like in the words of the contractor selected to represent the contractors in giving a closing remarks which he said that “the money taking from us by the Federal Government is coming back to us to be re-invested in our community and from this it means the government has fulfiled its own part of the bagain of partial removal of the subsidy and on the part of the contractors we will not only be doing injustice to our self but to our generation yet to be born if we refuse to adhere to the terms and condition of the contracts in executing them when we are priviledged to be among the awardees”; at this juncture, it has also become imperative after my observation of apparent transparency and due process in this earlier aspect by the LGA administrators that they will maintain this atitude and decorum in the final and hidden proceess of selection of Contractors if the aim of the SURE-P as intended by the GEJ administration for Okenites, Kogites and Nigerians in general must be realised in its true essence and not in the words of Barrister Chima Nnaji as quoted below:
A lawyer and public affairs analyst, Chima Nnaji on Tuesday february 05, 2013 described the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) document as an ordinary essay that cannot impact the socioeconomic welfare of Nigerians.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, Mr Nnaji said though the programme was intended to use the fund saved from the partial removal of fuel subsidy for the development of Infrastructure and the empowerment of Nigerians, these critical areas are still worse off.
He further stated, SURE-P is a beautiful document. But as he always said, just like Nigerian budgets, not necessarily of this government, Nigerian budget has been essay writing.
The analyst said when it comes to the implementation stage; the officials would often make excuses why certain projects are not feasible.
He continued, “The implementers will always tell you that in other climes this is what is done. We are too others directed. We do not have our own strategic thinking. I have always insisted that people in government must be strategic thinkers not just doers.
“This SURE-P from the document perspective is a beautiful write up. It is an essay if you want me to put it that way,” Mr Nnaji said.
Finally, I want to ask the Federal SURE-P under the able Chairmanship of Mr. Chris Kolade what is in federal SURE-P for our unemployed army of youths as well as the women of Okene, Kogi and as a Kogite I want to seize this opportunity to tell our Governor that two years into this administration we are yet to feel the impact of the State Government anywhere in state so I on behalf of every Kogite plead with Him to do something that he will be remembered for in the history of the state.